Right & Wrong

On one level people want simple answers and to be told what to do. On another, they want freedom to choose and make their own decision. People are multi-level and have the capacity to make their own choices as well as accept direction from others. Discord sets in when the guidance from others or authority does not fit what the individual wants or feels is right for them. In this case, the individual is in conflict and looks for something else.

Early Training

At a young age, most people are taught a philosophy of ‘right and wrong.’ Aspects of this protective mechanism are projected into daily life and are part of social and religious training. For example if you do not get-up and arrive timely at school this is bad. As an adult, being late will eventually result in loss of job. Or as a youth, if you take street drugs, this will lead to personal problems and addiction.

It is difficult to disagree with these two rules about daily life. Get to places on time and do not take potentially damaging street drugs. However to complicate matters other factors may be at play. Perhaps the individual is getting to work late because of an inner, hidden unease with this type of work. In time, after warnings by the supervisor, the worker realizes this and moves on. Or the youth experimenting with recreational drugs uses this learning in a future career, brain chemistry. Or in a more damaging scenario, after years of addiction the person sobers up and becomes a drug counselor; and because of personal experience helps dozens of others.

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Dr. Stewart Bitkoff is an avid student of Sufi mysticism. Specializing in therapeutic recreation, psychiatric rehabilitation, and mental health treatment, he holds a doctorate in education and served on the faculties of six colleges and universities. He is currently in the process of completing his third book, Path of the Spiritual Traveler in Everyday Life. A regular contributor to online venues like Wisdom Magazine, New Age Journal, and spiritual blogs. He can be reached at drbitkoff@yahoo.com.